“O” my goodness

Hi friends 😀 How are you? Thank you SO much for the wonderful feedback on the first week of Summer Shape Up 2011! I had a blasty putting it together and hope you enjoy the workouts and the results as much as I enjoyed creating it 🙂

Last night, we got ready to eat at our favorite Vegas spot.

me pilot

We dined at Mesa Grill, and it was just as incredible as last time <3

mesa

Mesa Grill is the brainchild of my celebrity cheffer crush, Bobby Flay (also referred to as B. Flizzle) and serves Bobby Flay-ish food: Southwestern with a New York spin. The interior of the restaurant is what I’d like to call cowboy chic and is located in Caesar’s Palace 🙂

interior

Drinks for two:

drinks

and a lovely basket of bread.

bread

(We shared the blue corn muffin)

To start, we ordered the Goat Cheese Queso Fundido. I dream about this queso, and have also made it at home. Creamy goat cheese, chilies, olive oil and blue corn chips.

cheese

For my entree, I chose the Sophie’s Chopped Salad (romaine, kidney beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, tortilla chips)

salad

+ a side of roasted carrots and butternut squash. They were cooked with spinach and shallots, so the flavor was outta control.

carrots

The Pilot ordered the lamb, which was seasoned with orange zest and came with the most savory tamale I’ve ever tasted.

lamb

He also ordered a glass of bourbon that’s been around longer than he has 😉

photo (55)

Dessert was banana cream pie, with hazelnut brittle, Frangelico-infused whipped cream and a hazelnut wafer on top.

dessert

As much as I wanted to love it, it wasn’t mind-blowing. I’m just a chocolate girl, that’s all 😉 The rest of the meal more than made up for it, though.

After some shenanigans

pilot (2)

pathetic attempts at gambling (I lost $10 on slot machines and called it good.. I like to have things to show for it if I’m going to waste dollars)

we went to see “O”.

o

“O” is a Cirque Du Soliel show and the stage turns into a lake, so much of it is water-based, with acrobatics, synchronized swimmers and a trippy story line that I’ll never understand, per CDS standards 🙂

The verdict: incredible. Thank you so much to those of you who recommended it- we LOVED it!

Here’s a video of the intro I found on YouTube:

So crazy.

We’re off to enjoy our last night here, but I’ll see ya in the morning!

xoxo

Gina

Something to talk about: What’s the best live show you’ve ever seen? I’ve been obsessed with shows since I was little, but with everything I’ve seen, Wicked is still #1 🙂

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84 Comments

  1. Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles on June 6, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Looks like you’re having a great time! I’d love to eat at Mesa – I’ve heard only good things about it!

  2. Laury@TheFitnessDish on June 6, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    So jealous. Vegas is our spot! Totally played in that poker room in your pic last time we were there!

    Best show ever…..LOVE at the Mirage!!!!

  3. Mindy on June 6, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    Wicked is definitely my number one as well – amazing!! Glad you and the Pilot are having a great time!

  4. Val @ Balancing Val on June 6, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    I’m glad you liked “o”

    We were debating on what cirque show to see and that one had my vote.

    Your Vegas posts make me so excited to go for the first time in September 🙂

  5. Katie on June 6, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    Love the vegas fun!

    As for shows, well I loved Wicked for a play, and Jersey Boys!!!!

    Im glad you guys got to get away and have fun!

  6. Eates-A-Lot on June 6, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    So jealous! Looks like your trip is a blast..

    Every year my Aunt takes me to NYC and we see about 5 Off and On Broadway shows..
    My favorite was this year, I saw Nathan Lane in Addams Family. It was a great show, but it was NATHAN LANE and he screwed up and it was just amazing.

    Close second was Rock of Ages.

  7. Brigid of Vegging out in T-Town on June 6, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Oh man! The queso fundido and the roasted veggies look incredible! I will have to try the former sometime when we have guests (which is never, ha ha) or I’m doing a dairy “cheat” night. I really need to do Vegas properly. I went once as a broke 20-year-old. It’s time to go back!

  8. Gina @ Running to the Kitchen on June 6, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Dinner looked great! I’ve been to Mesa Grill in NYC twice, but never in Vegas.
    The best show I saw was actually CDS too in Vegas, Zumanity. We had no idea it was the “sexual” show but despite the cross dressers and nudity it was still an amazing show!

  9. Pure2raw twins on June 6, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    I want to “O” so bad, I have seen the one in Orlando, but I have heard all the shows in vegas are amazing!

    glad you guys are having a great time

  10. Parita on June 6, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    WOO! So happy to hear that you love Wicked! I’m seeing it in September!!!! SO excited!

  11. lindsay on June 6, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    looking mighty fine, both food and the lovely couple! I always wanted to see that show.
    😉

  12. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table on June 6, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    Im jealous of the bourbon! I recently have become obsessed with good bourbon and scotch. It’s so refreshing after a meal.

  13. Mary @ Bites and Bliss on June 6, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    I saw Cirque du Soliel in Hawaii and it was amazing!! The first “circus” type thing I had ever seen. That stuff is incredible..I love to do stunts and stuff, but DANG!

  14. Kara on June 6, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Oh man.. that food looks amazing. I just LOVE Bobby’s restaurants. I want to go to Mesa for dinner so badly.. I’ve only had brunch at the NYC one, which, if they have at the Vegas one, you should DEFINITELY hit up.

  15. Babs on June 6, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Les Miserables…love

  16. Jayme on June 6, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Make sure you ask for the military discount when you go to shows!

    • Fitnessista on June 6, 2011 at 10:48 pm

      o is the only one that doesn’t offer one! blah

  17. PB Addict on June 6, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    Glad you enjoyed ‘O’! I’ve heard lots of fabulous things about it. I’ve seen only one Cirque Du Soleil show so far (Corteo) and loved it. Have a great night!

  18. Holly @ The Runny Egg on June 6, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    AAH!!! We saw O in Vegas last November and loved it so much! I’d definitely see it again. I’m glad you loved it!

    Is that a cactus margarita? I think I had that same drink when I was at Mesa — such a pretty pink 🙂

  19. Sara on June 6, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    I saw ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at a west end theatre in London and was completely blown away. It was hard to imagine how they could create such effects on a stage.

  20. kellyo on June 6, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    I just saw Wicked a few weeks ago and loved it, however, Les Miserables is my favorite. Enjoy Vegas!

  21. Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn on June 6, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    Ahhhhh omigah I am marrying Bobby Flay. Slash CDS is my faaave! They were on my cruise ship, and I also saw them at Madison Square Garden — they are SO so talented!

  22. Vivianne on June 6, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Wicked is amazing! I’ve seen it twice, one time was 3rd row. I know all the words to the soundtrack!!!

    I really want to see another cirque du soleil show. I saw Banana Shpeel in Chicago and it was good, more comedy than circus. I want to see a crazy one in Vegas!

    Sounds like you had a wonderful meal a great time!

  23. Jess@atasteofconfidence on June 6, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    I loved O. I was a synchronized swimmer, so I definitely appreciated it. Amazing!

  24. courtney @ cupcakedynamite on June 6, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    everything looks incredible!! these pictures make me miss Vegas so much, but more importantly you have perfect timing since I have been trying to convince my bff slash blog partner in crime that we need to go to Vegas ASAP. 😉 glad you’re having a beautiful time – it’s almost impossible not to!

  25. Amanda on June 6, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    Seems like EVERYONE has been going to Vegas lately! 🙂 My all time favorite show experience was definitely Wicked in the West End in London. SO awesome.

  26. Becky @ The Bex Factor on June 6, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    My favorite show was the Lion King in NYC. The opening scene with the music and all the animals running around was AMAZING and I got a little choked up hehe :-/

  27. Heather (Heather's Dish) on June 6, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    as much as i love musicals and dance i’ve hardly seen a lot of live shows…but Chicago (the play) live was fantastic!

  28. Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries on June 6, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    I love MESA grill! The best show I saw was in Vegas: The Beatles Love Cirque Du Soliel. It was amazing!

  29. Lynny on June 6, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    I wanted to check out that restaurant last time I was there! I will go for sure next time!

  30. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on June 6, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    So glad you saw O and loved it. Me too! I mean there are no words and being that you are into dance, zumba, yoga….what those performers do is just sooo incredible; even more so given your background, or mine with yoga. Truly mind boggling feats! I always say I’d like to come back my next lifetime as a Cirque performer!

    “He also ordered a glass of bourbon that’s been around longer than he has” – and I hope he enjoyed every last aged second of his bourbon!

    The food looks awesome; Mesa Grill is great!

    And I am so happy you two have this vacay together!!

  31. Elizabeth on June 6, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    SO JEALOUS. I have the Mesa grill cookbook and the hubs and I love everything we have made. I can’t believe how much more amazing it would be at the restaurant. Jealous face. Haha.

  32. Ryane on June 6, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Yessss – Mesa Grill is always on my list when I hit up NY! I mean I hit up the SW spiced red… (meat and vino) but it’s all good!

    : )

  33. Libby on June 6, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    I’ve been a total musical theatre nerd growing up, and while Wicked was up there for a long while, Next to Normal has taken that place. I think I’ve seen it 4 times? It’s much heavier than Wicked is, but one of those shows that just make you sit back and go, “Woah…” when it’s over. Incredible pop/rock driving score. It’s really good at weaving in and out of speech and song.

  34. Allison @ Food For Healing on June 6, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    the food looks absolutely amazing! glad you are having a great time.

  35. melissa on June 6, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    Hands down… Wicked was absolutely amazing.

    much like that queso.. looks delicious!

  36. gretchen on June 6, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    Ah I miss Vegas already! Cirque du Soleil is incredible. We saw Mystere last week at Treasure Island, and my fiancee was picked to be put in a box on stage..it was crazy! Hope the rest of your trip continues to be a blast!

  37. The Healthy Engineer on June 6, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    It took me so long to figure out what CDS meant!! 😛 Acronyms are slow with me I guess.

    I saw Love recently, but I guess it wasn’t really a favorite. I felt really peaceful and happy after I left, but it wasn’t all THAT amazing. I reallly wanted to see O though!

  38. kaila @ healthy helper! on June 6, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    O sounds amazing! And that meal looks even MORE fabulous! I love chop salads….and those veggies look so nice and carmelized! I am sure they were out of this world!

  39. Sana on June 6, 2011 at 11:32 pm

    Your last night? You guys are having soo much fun, and I am having fun reading! Stay longerrr!

  40. Jennie on June 6, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    I saw Wicked a couple of years ago and LOVED it, but I think I loved Chicago even more. The dancing, costumes, and singing was AMAZING!

  41. Alicia on June 7, 2011 at 12:16 am

    Love Vegas!! Went two years in a row for my birthday =) My mom and I are going to see WICKED this sunday =) =)

  42. Ann @ Running With Chopstix on June 7, 2011 at 12:19 am

    I absolutely love Broadway shows and Wicked is definitely my favorite too! Some of those songs are so good they give me shudders!

  43. Amanda Jewell on June 7, 2011 at 12:23 am

    O looks amazing! I haven’t seen very many shows, but I did see The Phantom of the Opera in London at Her Majesty’s Theatre which was PHENOMENAL! I think I cried the entire time 🙂
    Your dinner has inspired me to roast some sweet potato and carrots for dinner tomorrow! Merci!
    I really want to see WICKED!

  44. Jen on June 7, 2011 at 12:55 am

    You got a shout out on a personal finance blog about snacking – http://www.blondeandbalanced.com/ 🙂

    • Fitnessista on June 7, 2011 at 2:40 am

      yeahhh! thanks for letting me know 🙂
      xoxo

  45. Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] on June 7, 2011 at 1:09 am

    I looove shows! I’ve seen the Cirque du Soleil (the bug one). I want to go to Sin City just to see a show 🙂

  46. Carrie on June 7, 2011 at 1:09 am

    Oh you *have* to try aerial dance. There’s quite a bit in ‘O’, let it inspire you. I believe there’s a studio in Phoenix.

    So addicting and it makes you *buff*. Gah, I just want to share the love that aerial shares. The most fun workout I ever do. It’s the sense of danger that makes it especially awesome.

    • Fitnessista on June 7, 2011 at 2:40 am

      that’s a great idea- my friend mei does aerial and silks and she has an AMAZING body 🙂

      • Carrie on June 7, 2011 at 10:21 am

        Killer for abs too. 🙂

        Ha, just realized I wrote Phoenix instead of Tucson. Oops!

  47. Chelsea on June 7, 2011 at 1:16 am

    Cirque shows are my all time favorite! I plan on buying my boyfriend and I tickets for a show that’s coming soon around our 3 year anniversary 🙂 I’m excited because he’s never been to a show! They’re the best though!
    A little tip is too look up the story line of the show before going so you have an idea 😉 I recently saw Ovo which was phenomenal but I would’ve been clueless about it if I hadn’t done pre-research lol.

    • Fitnessista on June 7, 2011 at 2:39 am

      hahah i def need to do that next time!

  48. e on June 7, 2011 at 1:38 am

    I was thinking the same thing as Carrie. You should absolutely try an aerial class! [Be warned, though– it’s super addicting!] I’ve been doing circus for almost a year and a half now and can’t believe how much stronger I’ve gotten and how much my body has changed. It’s definitely an amazing workout. I did a quick search, and the only school I could find near Tucson was this one: http://tucsoncircusarts.com, but if it’s something you’d be interested in, there may be others?

    • Fitnessista on June 7, 2011 at 2:38 am

      amazing!! thanks for letting me know- i’d love to try it!

  49. Coco on June 7, 2011 at 1:54 am

    I agree! Wicked is the best!!! And I have seen MANY shows!

  50. Hannah (Hannah Lives) on June 7, 2011 at 4:22 am

    I seriously love Las Vegas. And I saw “O” in vegas back in 2004. And it was incredible! I loved every minute of it. I remember at the very beginning of the show and they are walking around on the stage and then the woman climbs to the top of the diving board/trapeze thing and jumps off, the whole audience gasped, and I was holding my breathe as she hit the stage, and then you realize that the bottom has dropped out from underneath when you weren’t looking and she was simply diving into water. omg. I’m getting shills remembering it. I was probably holding my breathe for half of the show! Love, love, love! I am so glad you saw it!

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